The year 2010 sees the Knights of the Red Cross R.B.P. 801 mark the 75th anniversary of the Preceptory's inauguration in Hamilton's Bawn.

The Warrant for R.B.P. No. 801 was previously held by a Preceptory encamped in Hong-Kong in the Province of China.  "Eastern Star R.B.P. 801" was attached to Portsmouth District No. 11 in England, and most of its members worked for either the Quarry Bar Sugar Refinery Company, or the British Armed Services.

In the 1924 Imperial Grand Chapter Report there were 17 members on the roll: one of these members was Sir Knight Major William Winder from Armagh, who presented his Red Cross Certificate, dated 1923, to the present R.B.P. No. 801 in August, 1963. This Certificate has been on display in the Orange Hall since then.

The "Knights of the Red Cross, R.B.P. No. 801" was inaugurated in Hamilton's Bawn on Saturday, 9th February 1935, at a meeting held under the auspices of Markethill R.B.D.C. No. 3. Six of the founder members came from "Pride of Richhill R.B.P. No. 133" and the seventh from "Mount Nebo R.B.P. No. 548" at Belleeks.

The seven founding members were Sir Knight John Adams, W.M., Sir Knight John Beck, D.M., Sir Knight Wm. John Harcourt, Chaplain, Sir Knight James Jackson, Registrar, Sir Knight Robert McHugh, Treasurer, Sir Knight James McLoughlin, 1st Lecturer and Sir Knight Hamilton Hawthorne.

The first regular meeting was held on 14th February 1935, and it was agreed that the Preceptory should meet on the 3rd Thursday of each month. Dues were set at 6d per month, this amount was raised to 1s per month in October 1939.

It was also decided that collarettes with a green border, and a new banner, be purchased from Wm. Bridgett in Belfast, so a Committee was set up to organise a Black Ball to raise funds.

Numbers increased rapidly, and in April there were 27 members on the roll, 11 initiations and nine transferred from other Preceptories.

On the "Last Saturday" in August 1935, the Sir Knights paraded with their new banner at the demonstration in Lurgan, headed by Rockmacraney Memorial Pipe Band, who were paid the princely sum of £3 0s. 0d. By now, there were 33 members, including one who had been obligated that morning and did not receive the Royal Black degree until the September meeting.

In June 1936, a picnic was held with Rockmacraney Band again being in attendance, but later it is recorded that the Preceptory should pay for repairs to a set of bagpipes, broken at the picnic!

During the years from 1936 to 1939, the Sir Knights were led by Markethill Pipe Band on the "Last Saturday" for a fee of $4 0s. 0d. per day. Markethill Band also headed the Preceptory in 1945 through Armagh, when demonstrations resumed after the Second World War, and again in 1947, in Lurgan. In between, in 1946, Rockmacraney was engaged to accompany the Sir Knights to Portadown.

The newly-formed Hamilton's Bawn Silver Band was hired at a fee of £10 0s.0d. to lead the Preceptory in 1948, again in Portadown, and they have led the Sir Knights every year since.

R.B.P. No. 801 continued to favour the "Last Saturday" demonstration until 1958, then in 1959 they went to Scarva; however, in 1960 the "Last Saturday" was again chosen, as it turned out, for the last time, because since 1961 the Sir Knights of Hamilton's Bawn have taken their place with the rest of Markethill District on the 13th July at Scarva. The only exception was in 1990, Tercentenary year, when the Preceptory attended a special County Armagh demonstration in Loughgall on the "Last Saturday" with Mullabrack Accordion Band doing the honours.

During the War years, meetings became very irregular, sometimes six months apart; very few degrees were conferred and dues were reduced again, to 6d per month. As there were no demonstrations on the "Last Saturday" a "social hour" was arranged for that evening in the Hall.

In the years between 1946 and 1953 the Preceptory organised a Parade Service, in Kildarton Parish Church on a Sunday in June, again being led by Rockmacraney Pipe Band. The offering at these services was usually given to the Church Building Fund, but in 1950 the entire collection was donated to the widow of Sir Knight Herbert Emerson who had been left with a very young family and little income.

In addition to this service in Kildarton, the Sir Knights attended a service each August organised by Druminnis Presbyterian Church; in later years the Preceptory took responsibility for the running of this service and changed the date to the first Sunday in June. The parade is led by Hamilton's Bawn Silver Band and the offering is divided between the Lord Enniskillen and Presbyterian Orphan Funds.

In 1984, a special 50th Anniversary Service was held in Druminnis to mark the Jubilee year of the Preceptory, with souvenir "Orders of Service" and a March Past. The salute was taken by District Officers and Imperial Deputy Grand Chaplain, Sir Knight Rev. Victor Ryan, who was also the special preacher.

In March 1951, it was agreed to change the night of meeting to the first Monday; some years before, it had been switched from the 3rd Thursday to the 2nd Thursday, but from February 1952 until December 1954, meetings were held on the 1st Tuesday. Since then however, the first Monday has been the accepted night of meeting.

Since its inception R.B.P. No. 801 has paid half of the yearly rates on the Orange Hall and in October 1951, it was proposed and seconded that £10 0s. 0d. be given towards the cost of installing electric light in the Hall. In 1988, £400 was donated to help pay for repairs being carried out by L.O.L. No. 47. The Preceptory has also answered many other calls for financial help from Lodges and Preceptories, mostly for repairs to Orange and Black Halls. These range from 1 guinea in 1954 towards Castlecaulfield R.B.P. No. 979 Black Hall, to more recent donations of £20 each to several cross-border Lodges and also Brownlow House Restoration Fund.

There has always been a desire within R.B.P. No. 801 to look well while on parade. All members must wear the collarette with the green border that was chosen at inauguration, and in June 1954, a rule was passed that all Sir Knights wear bowler hats; another rule in May 1957, required that everyone wear white gloves. Since June, 1963, any Sir Knight who has received the Apron and Royal Blue degree must wear the Apron on parade. In 1989, white carnations were purchased for each collarette. The most recent item of uniform came in 1993 when it was agreed that all members purchase black ties with the single Red Cross and Crown emblem.

The Preceptory was presented with a fine pair of ceremonial swords by Sir Knight George Parks in April 1963; a month later guantlets were purchased for the officers. In July 1965, a levy of 5 shillings per head per year was imposed to raise funds to buy a new banner, the original one now being thirty years old. This new banner was unfurled in June 1973, by the County Grand Master, Sir Knight Sandy Anderson, a native of Hamilton's Bawn; new Committee poles were added in 1990. The family of the late Sir Knight Leslie Troughton, D.M., presented a Bible to the Preceptory in 1984.

To further commemorate our 50th Anniversary a dinner was held in Mullabrack Parish Hall in February 1985. Sir Knight J. H. Molyneaux, M.P., Sovereign Grand Master, was in attendance and presented long service medals to nine Sir Knights with 40 years service, and four with 50 years membership in the Institution. Recognition was also accorded to Sir Knight William Muldrew who received a carriage clock honouring 28 years as treasurer of the Preceptory. Sir Knight James Nicholl, P.M. performed the cutting of a specially-decorated cake.

Throughout the years, R.B.P. No. 801 has been fortunate enough to have a steady supply of Lecturers from within it's own ranks; two Lecturers who visited the Preceptory to assist with degrees both transferred to R.B.P. No. 801 - Sir Knight Robert Henning from R.B.P. No. 8 and Sir Knight James Wilson from R.B.P. No. 595. The members have always appreciated the work done by the Lecturers and in earlier years Lecturers were exempt from walking dues. More recently, the Preceptory has assisted with travelling expenses for Lecturers attending the International Conference in Scotland or England. The present 1st Lecturer, Sir Knight Ronnie Black, P.M., is also 1st District Lecturer and County Grand Lecturer. Sir Knight Black is the second member of R.B.P. No. 801 to hold County Office, as Sir Knight John Adams, the Preceptory's first W.M. held the position of County Grand Treasurer and also Imperial Grand Treasurer.

Since its formation, members of R.B.P. No. 801 have played an active part in the running of the District Chapter by supporting District meetings and Services. Members have also been to the fore in other events organised by the District Chapter such as Black Balls, Supper Dances, Treasure Hunts and District Quizzes.

Most recently, to mark the occasion of the 75th Anniversary of the Preceptory, a Songs of Praise service was held in Druminnis Presbyterian Church Hall.  Both the Sovereign Grand Master, Most Wor. Sir Knight Millar Farr and the County Grand Master of Armagh, Sir Knight William Scott were in attendance, along with friends and family from within and outside the institution.  Musical accompaniment was provided by the organist, Mrs Sandra Ross, a Brass Group made up of local musicians, and Druminnis's own Praise Group.  The County Armagh Black Chapter Choir performed a number of hymns in their usual excellent standard.  Rev Sam Finlay, minister of Druminnis Presbyterian Church delivered an excellent address based around the themes raised by the readings from Scripture during the Service.

The offering on the evening was towards the Grand Master's Designated Charity for 2010, Kiwoko Hospital in Uganda.  Dr Alison Reid, daughter of Sir Knight William Reid, P.M. of R.B.P. 801, gave a short presentation on the work of Kiwoko Hospital, which is not only performing a vital healthcare role in the community, but also providing Christian outreach to the people of the area.  Dr Reid had recently spent some time working in the hospital in the course of her medical studies.
 

It is our sincere hope and belief that the "Knights of the Red Cross" will press onward into the future with fortitude, having faith in the justice of our cause.